Resilience and Self-Perceived Oral Health: A Hierarchical Approach

• Published in: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS) 2011-04, Vol.59 (4), p.725-731
• Main Authors: Martins, Aline Blaya, dos Santos, Camila Mello, Hilgert, Juliana Balbinot, de Marchi, Renato José, Hugo, Fernando Neves, Pereira Padilha, Dalva Maria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological - physiology; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Brazil; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dental health; Facial bones, jaws, teeth, parodontium: diseases, semeiology; Female; General aspects; Health Status; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Mental Health; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Non tumoral diseases; Older people; oral health; Oral Health - standards; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Perceptions; psychological resilience; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Retrospective Studies; Self Efficacy; self-perception; Social Support; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0002-8614; 1532-5415
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2011.03350.x

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether positive self‐perceived oral health is associated with sociodemographic health variables, with an emphasis on resilience, in community‐dwelling older adults in southern Brazil. DESIGN: Cross‐sectional study nested within a cohort study. SETTING: Carlos Barbosa in southern Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred ninety‐six community‐dwelling adults aged 64 and older. MEASUREMENTS: Sociodemographic information, a health history, and health perceptions were assessed using a structured questionnaire. Resilience was assessed using a resilience scale. For each participant, a brief oral examination was performed to assess number of teeth. Positive self‐perceived oral health was the outcome of interest. RESULTS: A final, fully adjusted Poisson regression model showed that high resilience potential (prevalence ratio (PR)=1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.06–1.32), income (PR=1.18, 95% CI=1.07–1.30), and no reported change in diet because of dental problems (PR=1.34, 95% CI=1.13–1.60) were associated with positive self‐perceived oral health. Participants living in rural areas were less likely to report positive self‐perceived oral health (PR=0.83, 95% CI=0.75–0.93). CONCLUSION: Using a hierarchical approach, positive self‐perceived oral health was found to be associated with several variables included in the conceptual framework of oral health outcomes, such as resilience. Resilience may act as a potentiating agent in the positive adaptation to tooth loss.